Light-weight Linux distribution

Xubuntu is described by its developers as light-weight in comparison to Ubuntu

A light-weight Linux distribution is a Linux distribution that has lower memory and/or processor-speed requirements than a more "feature-rich" Linux distribution. The lower demands on hardware ideally result in a more responsive machine, and/or allow devices with fewer system resources (e.g. older or embedded hardware) to be used productively. The lower memory and/or processor-speed requirements are achieved by avoiding software bloat, i.e. by leaving out features that are perceived to have little or no practical use or advantage, or for which there is no or low demand.

The perceived weight of a Linux distribution is strongly influenced by the desktop environment included with that distribution.[1][2] Accordingly, many Linux distributions offer a choice of editions. For example, Canonical hosts several variants ("flavors") of the Ubuntu distribution that include desktop environments other than the default Unity or Gnome. These variants include the Xubuntu and Lubuntu distributions for the comparatively light-weight XFCE and LXDE desktop environments. Some distributions include only light-weight desktop environments. For example, Porteus comes only in LXDE, XFCE and MATE editions, while Zenwalk comes only with XFCE and Openbox.

The demands that a desktop environment places on a system may be seen in a comparison of the minimum requirement of Lubuntu 10.10 and Ubuntu 10.10 desktop editions. The only significant difference between these two distributions released in October 2010 was their desktop environment: While Ubuntu 10.10 included the Unity desktop, Lubuntu 10.10 included LXDE. And, while the minimum requirements of Ubuntu 10.10 were a 2 GHz processor and 2 GB of RAM,[3] the minimum requirements for Lubuntu 10.10 were 128 MB of RAM and a Pentium II.[4]

DietPi - Debian-based light-weight system created originally for Raspberry Pi boards, but today it has got downloadable images for several ARM-based SBCs and x86 PCs as well[10]. Also includes an own setup utility[11] with choice to install popular optimized software.

Linux Console - A light-weight distribution (684 MB) with excellent hardware detection which features several games to appeal to kids. It was developed independently in France and not based on any other Linux distribution. [12][13]